The Burning of the Houses of Parliament

“The Burning of the Houses of Parliament” by J. M. W. Turner depicts the fire that broke out at the Houses of Parliament in 1834. Turner himself witnessed the Burning of Parliament from the south bank of the River Thames, opposite Westminster.

The painting shows the Houses of Parliament overwhelmed in golden flames. The fire is consuming the chamber of the House of Commons, and presents a view from downstream, close to Waterloo Bridge. The flames and smoke blowing dramatically over the Thames as the London spectators look on from the river bank and from boats .

Turner made multiple sketches using both pencil and watercolour in two sketchbooks from different vantage points, including from a boat. Turner also painted an earlier painting on the same subject, from further upstream, next to Westminster Bridge, earlier in the same year 1835.